A few thoughts after I watched the game on tape:
- DB's and safeties really played well all game long. I give the tackling a grade of B and a B grade on the coverage. Saw more DB's in the face of the WR and there were at least 6 tipped or knocked down passes by the DB's or safeties. Gump Hayes played really well and Ball was a tackling machine - although he did miss one crucial tackle that ended up in a long run for a TD.
- Defensive line also was solid. Wrenn and Smallwood really played hard and got good pushes up the middle quit a few times. Krump and Wicker were also were very good off the edge all night long. Krump is so quick and he is a handful for any LT. D-line did not give up any big running plays. I think their longest run might of been 8 yards. -1 rushing yards when you count in the sacks. I also saw 2-3 balls batted down at the line of scrimmage last night. I have been harping on that all year long. Solid A grade overall.
- Offense looked very shaky at times. Even the snaps from center to the QB looked low all night long. Was throwing off Brady's timing because he always had to bend down to get the ball. Not sure what McCollum's issue was with the snapping the ball last night but I have not seen that all year long. The Sparky formation was a little disorganized as well and even handing the ball off to the RB's was a challenge at times. Need to get that cleaned up.
- Why ask Sterling-Cole to throw the ball in that situation???? - You have a field goal locked up and would force UCLA to have to score a TD to win. But Lindsay decided to get brave and not play smart for some reason and asks a rookie QB on his second play to throw a 25 yard touch- pass fade into the end zone. A real dumb move in my opinion. Even if UCLA scores a TD then you just need a FG to win it and I would take my chances of Zane hitting a 50+ to win it. It worked out but that could of cost us the game.
- Mora is in big trouble at UCLA. They were a 10 point favorite and we had our 2nd string QB starting for the first time and they could not win. I think his seat just got very warm.
- 5-1 really looks good right now. I think this is realistically the best start all of us ASU homies could of asked for considering everything leading into this season.
